Opportunity Cost

The loss of the benefit, or income, from an alternative option from what has been chosen for the monies spent. For example, investing in new equipment means that the opportunity cost of investing the spent monies (providing income and capital growth) has been lost, although the overall value gained from purchasing the equipment may be deemed more beneficial than the next highest value option.

  Organic Waste

Carbon based material, such as from animals and plants. Organic matter which has died and then decomposes as part of a soil is also organic waste, although in many cases this type of waste is not strictly waste as it is an important food source for micro-organisms.

  Organisational Goals

These are often strategic senior management objectives. They will define the, often SMART, longer term outcomes, needed for measuring the success of the organisation, as well as providing the vision for its direction of travel.

Continue reading about this

  Organisational Strategy

The medium to long-term plan and vision for an organisation. A strategy will include aims and objectives over a short- and medium-term time scale (for example, one to five years) that allows managers and employees to deliver meaningful outcomes in a progressive journey to the longer-term goals.

  Organisational Theory

A sociological study of understanding organisations, primarily how they operate, especially behaviours of the staff and organisational culture, and are structured. There are different theories and classifications, with some having overlapping features of others, but a range of theories include the following: 1. Classical theory: Which can be considered to consist of • Scientific management theory: This considers how individuals undertake and how management organise and direct work in order to improve levels of productivity. • Bureaucratic theory (Weber): The exercising of autho

Continue reading about this

  Ornamental Lawn

The standard of lawns that many people might aspire to, but rarely achieve. Many ornamental lawns will actually be of an unsuitable standard and would only really be classed as ornamental due to the height the grass they are being cut at. A lot of effort and cost is required to maintain an ornamental lawn to a continuously good standard. The main grass species used for these lawns will be Red Fescues and Common Bent, as well as select cultivars of Perennial Ryegrass, that are fine leaved and persistent under relatively short mowing. The height of cut for an ornamental lawn will typically be fr

Continue reading about this

  Outsource

To obtain a product or service from an external supplier, especially when what is required cannot be provided internally by an organisation. Sometimes a product or service, which can be provided internally, will be outsourced because internal capacity is at its maximum and further requirements cannot be met internally.

  Over Delivery

This can have two contrasting meanings. The more common one might be to do with customer service and where a product or service exceeds expectations, often resulting in a customer being delighted with what they have received.

Continue reading about this

  Over Engineering

A reference to modern groundskeeping or greenkeeping practices that typically have high or unnecessary, inputs of resources.

Continue reading about this

  Overtime

Time that an employee carries out that is beyond normal hours, which will be defined in a contract of employment. Overtime might allow for additional payment from an employer, although this is not obligatory, in which case time-in-lieu should be given: the treatment of overtime, rates or lieu should be given in a contract of employment. In the grounds care industry, there can be a significant quantity of overtime hours built up, especially during renovation times, or as part of normal working practices where staff shortages are present. Care needs to be taken to ensure an excessive quantity of

Continue reading about this